Genes in asthma: new genes and new ways
- 1 October 2008
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Current Opinion in Allergy and Clinical Immunology
- Vol. 8 (5), 411-417
- https://doi.org/10.1097/aci.0b013e32830f1dc1
Abstract
Asthma is a disease of unknown aetiology characterized by intermittent inflammation of the small airways of the lung. Asthma is familial due to an interaction between strong genetic and environmental factors. This article aims to review the current understanding of the genetic factors underlying asthma, looking historically as well as highlighting the latest developments in the field. Findings from recent candidate gene studies and microsatellite genome screens have continued to highlight the importance of the epithelial barrier and its defence mechanisms in asthma. Completion of the human genome sequence and the advent of genome-wide association studies have resulted in the identification of two novel asthma susceptibility genes, ORMDL3 and CHI3L1, in the past year. With the advances in genetics and genomics substantial steps have been taken in the last decade in understanding the genetic factors underlying asthma. Studies have highlighted the importance of the role of the epithelium with many of the genes so far identified being expressed in this key barrier. With the application of genome-wide expression, microRNA studies, metagenomics, proteomics and metabolomics the next decade will undoubtedly result in a further substantial increment in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying asthma.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Pharmacogenetic response to albuterol among asthmaticsPharmacogenomics, 2008
- Discovering susceptibility genes for asthma and allergyNature Reviews Immunology, 2008
- Clinical Consequences of ADRβ2 PolymorphismsPharmacogenomics, 2008
- Recent advances in asthma geneticsRespiratory Research, 2008
- ADRB2 polymorphisms and β2 agonistsThe Lancet, 2007
- IL4Rα Mutations Are Associated with Asthma Exacerbations and Mast Cell/IgE ExpressionAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007
- Asthma genetics 2006: the long and winding road to gene discoveryGenes & Immunity, 2006
- HLA genomics in the third millenniumCurrent Opinion in Immunology, 2005
- An update of the HLA genomic region, locus information and disease associations: 2004Tissue Antigens, 2004
- The genetics and complexity of allergy and asthmaImmunology Today, 1998